Who are behind Our Heritage?

The enthusiastic team that volunteers at Our Heritage has diverse Caribbean (including Surinamese and Guyanese) roots and connections, a range of mixed heritage and busy jobs, business classes and PhD work they do alongside this project.

Project Team

Research Team

Fausia S. Abdul

Founder & Coordinator
PhD Researcher

"Growing up in a Dutch village, I became fascinated early on by different perspectives, identity and its fluid nature. As a PhD candidate and official with 12+ years of experience in e.g. I work on linguistic, socio-political, and theological issues in Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, and Vienna. I write for Global Voices, was active at UNSA Vienna and developed The Culinary Historibbean, relaunch in '25 in 2021."

Lily W. K.

Administrative Project Assistant (2024 - now)

"With years of experience in administration and as a health experience expert, I support older Surinamese and Caribbean communities who get stuck in Dutch bureaucracy. I also volunteer for neighbourhood health initiatives for women aged 55+ to strengthen and connect them.

Fariel Soeleiman

(Event) Content Creator

(2024 - now)

"My musical journey took me from Suriname to the USA, and the Netherlands, where I studied music. Since my graduation in 2022, I have been working in the film industry, now helping to make movies accessible. I also create content, bringing my passion for stories to life, with feminism as a common theme personally and professionally. Additionally, I assist Surinamese students in settling in the Netherlands through my own organisation.

Lisette van den Berg

Adviser exhibition inclusion & heritage

Our HERitage 2025

"As an anthropologist, I've always had a special interest in cultural heritage. The stories and tangible remains are not only a bridge to the past, but also to the people who preceded us. With the focus on this human aspect, a sense of recognition is created, and the past suddenly comes remarkably close. "

Nataly Burgzorg

MA Researcher Gender & Caribbean History (2025)

"Born and raised in Curaçao, and grandparents from Curaçao, Nevis, St. Maarten and Suriname, I carry a rich cultural background with me. I studied at Utrecht University. Now I work as a researcher and filmmaker. I also freelance for the University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez, where I bring together gender, colonial history, art, and culture. Through my work, I aim to offer a broader perspective on Caribbean identity."

Rashid Dossett

PhD Researcher

Caribbean Islands & Migration

(2024 - now)

"As an alumnus of Leiden University and Erasmus University Rotterdam I specialise in anthropological and sociological issues around the Western world and the Global South. Originally from Curaçao, I now live in the Netherlands and do PhD research at the Free University of Brussels on the colonial legacy of the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition, I write historical thrillers and enjoy cosplay and photography."

Hilde Neus

PhD Researcher

Slavery History (2024 - now)

"After years of in-depth archival research on women in the 18th century, I have uncovered numerous surprising stories. I share my passion for literature and women's history on the literary page of newspaper De Ware Tijd in Suriname and as a speaker at conferences. In addition, I teach and do PhD research on free creole women at Anton de Kom University. I previously published Susanna du Plessis and I continue to bring hidden histories to life."

Matthijs Kraijo

PhD Researcher Contractarbeid (2025 - now)

"As an external PhD candidate at Radboud University, I study the history of Indian contract workers in Suriname, South Africa and Fiji. I combine migration records and socio-demographic data with qualitative sources. I also work as an Assistant Secretary at the Faculty of Arts."

External & (former) Ad-Hoc Contributors

Ryaen

la Rose

Writer Columnseries

Our HERitage Speaks 2025

journalist in Suriname, docent geschiedenis, oprichter Rutu Taki

Laurie

Wissink

Former team member Our HERitage 2024-2025

Archive specialist Collection Overijssel

Rowan

van der Stelt

Ad hoc Archive Research for Our HERiture 2024 - 2025

historicus, CECD in Dordrecht, Vereniging Matuaribo, Het Archief Ontwaakt

Ludmila

Duncan

ad hoc Outreach Assistent Our HERitage 2025

promovendus, hoofdredacteur ORIGINSSS Magazine, boek Sailing in Salt Water

Diantha

Vliet

Education Representation & Identity Our HERuity 2025

Lecturer at Univ of Utrecht, PAN Asian Collective